Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-06-10
RESERTATION MATTERS.
What Is Being Done at the
LdpacGi 4gency--Mdt-
ters Educational, etc.

While in Lewiston recently we visited
the Lapwai agency and were Hospitality
entertained by Hon. Geo. w. Norris,
the present efficient agent of the NeZ
Perces, whom we found to be as compe-
tent and unassuming gentleman as
ever occupied that position. During
the winter sundry rumors had been in
dustriously circulated by his enemies at
Lewiston and on the prairie that he in
tended to create trouble by representa-
tions made to the Interior department
that the stockmen of Camas prairie were
herding their stock on the reservation
rights and privileges guaranteed to the
Indians by treaty obligations. This
matter had been the subject of an ami
mated correspondence between the
agent and the editor of the FREE PRESS
last winter, and part of our mission
while below was to ascertain by direct
interview with the agent just what his
intentions were in the matter. 1t was
therefore very great pleasure to us to
learn that the agent had been grossly
misrepresented, and that he never en-
tertained any idea of doing or causing
anything to be done to disturb the
friendly relations which have always
existed between the treaty Indians and
the whites, and all reports to the con-
trary are malicious lies. invented
by disappointed aspirants for Office, or
by employees of the former administra-
ton to bring Mr.. Norris into dis
repute among the white people.
The agency has been removed. from
the original site of the old Spaulding
mission at the mouth of the Lapwai, to
the military reservation formerly occu-
pied as Fort Lapwai. During the last
winter large school was maintained,
which was attended by 120 of the In
dian children, who were boarded at the
expense Of the government. The pupils
made fair progress, and all the difficult
ties considered, Mr.. Norris gives them
credit for as mnch natural aptitude for
learning as the average white child.
Our visit to the agency was made during
a recess of the school. but judging from
the acquirments of the pupils then pres
ent, we feel that a grand work is being
quietly accomplished through the edu-
cation of these youngsters, and that the
policy of educating the children up to
Al l.. l.. T. l. IL
way of solving the much vexed Indian
problem. 1t is certainly an improvement
on the old policy of fighting them wher
they grow up. The schools and build.
ings devoted to the Accommodations of the
youngsters are provided with every fa
cility and kept scrupalously clean; the
grub is all of the best and many poo
white man who is too lazy to worl
would like Nicodemus of old, willingl,
be born again blanket Indian if hi
could be thus cared for by this great ant
rich government.
Since Mr.. Norris has been installed il
his present position matters among tn
Indians on the reservation have beer
running very smoothly. This CRAFTY
ing feature arises from the fact that h
has ignored the Indian factions an
cliques who are forever trying to schem
., themselves into the good graces of tn
agent in the hopes of obtaining favor
and privileges which are denied to tn
other Indians. This policy has eve
been a source of discomfort among tn
Indians, and Mr.. Norris deserves gres
credit for having introduced into h
ve administration the novel feature
he treating them on the good old democra
's' ic plan of equal and exact justice to a
and favoritism to none. There al
other topics of public interest on th
ms reserve of which we will speak anon.